Filling apparatus and method



March 19, 1957 J. F. RYAN, JR., Erm. 2,785,705-

FILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed July 17. 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR.

JAMES E Rm/v JR.

JoHN J KAP/5 By i @QJ M ATTORNEYS March 19, 1957 J. F. RYAN, JR., ETAL2,785,706

FILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD original FiledJuly 17, 1955 4 sheets-sheet2 48 INVEN TOR.

JAMES E RVA/v JR. JOHN J KAPP ATTORNEYS March 19, 1957 J. F. RYAN, JR.,Erm.` 2,785,706

FILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed July 1'7, 1953 4Shee'ts-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. .JAMES E fm1/v JR. JoH/v J KAP/5 ByfhfATTORNEYS March 19, 1957 J. F. RYAN, JR.. ErAL 2,785,706

FILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed July l? 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet4 INVENTOR. JAMES E Rm/v JR.

JOHN J KAPP ATTORNEYS United States Patent O FILLING APPARATUS METHODJames F. Ryan, Jr., Hayward, Calif., and John J. Kapp, Sea Cliff, N. Y.,assignors to James Dole Engineering Co., San Francisco, Calif., acorporation of Nevada Original application July 17, 1953, Serial No.368,608. Divided and this application February 24, 1955, Serial No.490,322

11 Claims. (Cl. 141-1) This invention relates to the continuous fillingof a product in containers, and more particularly to an improvedapparatus and method wherein containers are filled substantially withoutspillage as the containers are moved in a line past a continuous streamof the product.

This application comprises a divisional application of applicantsco-pending application, Serial No. 368,608, filed July 17, 1953.

In assignees co-pending application, Serial No. 104,074, iiled `luly 1l,1949, for Apparatus and Method for Filling Products in Containers, nowPatent No. 2,667,424, is disclosed a continuous filling apparatus whichfeeds a continuous stream of any suitable liquiform product intocontainers which are continuously conveyed in a line, which may bearcuate but is preferably straight, along or past the stream at suchspeed asl t'o cause each container to be substantially completely anduniformly filled as it passes by the stream. The containers are conveyedwith a substantially continuous and uninterrupted motion, so thatspillage ofthe contents is obviated which would otherwise result if thecontainers were held stationary under the stream during the lillingoperation, with the result that the entire line of containers would haveto be moved with an interrupted motion.

Such apparatus is particularly adapted forthe filling of containersprovided with anges at their open mouths because the product can beintroduced into the containers without spillage when the containers aremoved past the stream with their flanges overlapped. Although theapparatus can fill containers positioned with their mouths spaced apart,this is undesirable because of the spillage of theproduct which wouldobtain by virtue of the spaces between the mouths of the containers.

l With the container flanges overlapped, some of the product isdeposited on the anges of the containers; and insome instances, shouldthe containers be out of round Yas happens on occasions during handlingthereof, precise 2,785,706 Patented Mar. 19, 1957 of the product. It canalso readily lill liquiform products containing discrete particles, asvWell as homogeneous liquiform products. Furthermore, with respect tometal can containers, the accuracy of the ll is not dependent on thecontainers being all perfectly round as they pass by the stream of theproduct.

The apparatus of this invention comprises a simple nozzle or valve at apredetermined location to which is supplied a continuous stream of theproduct which ows uniformity of filling may not obtain. Furthermore,there is a problemin the lling of liquiform products containing discreteparticles of material, such as cream style corn adapted for canning. jsummarizing thisY invention, it also embodies contiriuousiilling ofcontainers that are conveyed in one vgeneral direction past a continuousstream of the product with a continuous substantially uninterruptedmotion. However, the apparatus is designed to enable filling, withsubstantially no spillage, of a line of adjacent containers,

Vthe top edges of which can not be positioned in adjacent contactingrelationship, for example, a glass jar container in which the mouth isof lesser diameter than the body of the container. Also, .the apparatusembodies means that will enable filling without spillage of metal cantype containers having anges at their open mouths, even though theflanges Y may not be overlapped, or in other words, are spaced @Part Inaddition, the apparatus is designed to ll products without depositingthe same on the adjacent A" edges of the containers as they pass by thesupply stream into the containers as they are continuously moved pastthe stream by suitable conveying means, with an uninterrupted motion andin predetermined relationship. Stream dividing means including a movablecontrol element is provided. Also, means is provided which correlatesthe movement of the control element with the movement of the containersto divide or divert the stream at the lling location, past adjacentupper edges of adjacent containers while simuitaneously shielding suchadjacent edges from the stream. As a result, the adjacent edges, whetherthey are in contact or spaced uniformly apart, are not hit by the streamof the product.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a more or less schematic plan view of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 withparts shown broken away and other parts shown in section to illustratemore clearly the construction. The view also illustrates schematicallythe manner of feeding the product to the filling valve.

Fig. 3 is an end vertical sectional elevation taken in a plane indicatedby line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken in by line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the positionkof the shield orstream diverting means of the apparatus, with respect to the stream, atone stage in its cycle of operation. t

Fig. 5a is a schematic view illustrating the position of a planeindicated `a timing cam embodied in the apparatus, .correspondingtainers 2 illustrated are conventional can type containers of metalhaving flanges 2 at their open mouths. They are fed to the llingapparatus by means of an endless conveyor cable 3 continuously driven byany suitable lmeans (not shown). flhe cable merely frictionally engagesthe containers so that as they pile up adjacent the filling apparatus,the cable can slip under the containers.-

A continuously driven' worm 4 carried by a shaft 6 journalled in theframe of the apparatus and which is continuously rotated by any suitablemeans including drive` chain 7, is provided in the lling apparatus forcontinuously conveying the containers therethrough with a substantiallyuninterrupted motion. Worm 4 has a helix 8 about the periphery thereofto which a continuous supply of the containers are fed by endless cable3. In this connection, it is to be understood that an adequate supply ofcontainers is always provided by cable 3, so that the worm willalways befull of containers. A stationary support 9 is provided adjacent worm 4over which the containers can slide as they are conveyed by the worm;the support being provided with a side guide ange 11 for the containers.

The pitch of helix 8 is'constant so as to maintain -the i Y containers Yin predetermined relationship and in *thel embodiment of the inventionillustrated, the pitch is such as to eiect overlapping of the Containeranges 2'. as they areconveyed. .Howevenit is. to .be understoodthat Ithecontainenfl-anges Yneed' .not .beoverlappednas 1ong;as..the helix.maintansall of the containersinl the samepredetermined .spaced apartrelationship;

Vchargesend ofthe Worm, thefcontainers are conveyedby any'suitablemeans, such asrcontinuously driven .endless cable 12, Vto .suitablecoverapplying mechanism-Knot shown). Y Y Y Y Y Meansis providedfforlsupplyingasubstantiallycontinufanatisme f From.. the dis- Y ous-.stream YSoftheproduct .at a .xedapredet'erminedr .locationpast which4 the.containers vare.continuously moved bythe..w,orm. Suclmeans;`comprises.,productsnpply itrl'llnll.` (Fig, .2). l. conneet'edby Ypiping1411011115:. .intake sidev oigasofcalled Yconstantvolumetricldisch-argqpump 1 15;,whichprovides .meansfor supplying.-a.iixedpredeter Y mined..quantity., or volume; .oli-'theA .product .perVvu ,nit of time; .thisquantity beingY regulatable.. .at .willr .by :meansVota variable speed motor. 16. connected t'c .drive ..the, pump.

Y '.Thediscbargesi'de of Ypnmpl. connected bypiping'fIyto..a.simpllevalve ,or nozzle 18 ,having; a..sing1e discharge..

o'ritice '19.,whic`h is alwaysv open. to. supply. the. continuous streamof lthe product andmwhich.. as..-can berseenmore clearly from ..Fig. Y.1,.is centered over.. the centerline of "theline'of containers beingconveyed by wornrALI.

Any, suitable .liquiform produca/sueltas la .relativelyvnonviscousQproductl for.example, milk, -or arelatively fviscous' prodct,.for example. cream style. corn canbe supplied..ITheproduct need.not bea food .product .b'ut

Hence: the .cam will. make. one.. complete revolution'. per .movementof'each vcontainer .equal to a distance thattlie connected to aninternally threadedsleeve 43 inzturn adjustably secured on a rod 44.

Rod 44 is connected 'toa collar 46 xedly secured to one end'of a pivotor `rock shaft 47 journalled for rocking movement in an elongated sleeve4S extending along wormv 4. At its opposite.end.rocl; shaft 47 hassecured thereto .a collar.49..at. one end. ofcamfollowen arm 51; theopposite end of arm 51 having journalled" thereon a cam. follower roller52;I Avtiming cam. Szis secured-fin fixed adjusted position to theifeedend.of ,WornrAz for rotation with theworm. Foradjustment of the:cam, itisY provided with arcuateslots-54. enablingrturningfof the -carnfto apredetermined..positiomwhemsecuringgcp.

screws 56 passing through 'fthe'slots'54f 'are'.atigrhtened. Camfollower roller 52 is held against the periphery or profile of the camby'ra spring -57j1connected to caml iollower arm 51 and to a xecl partof the frame of theY ma. l chine. Y Y

Since cam 535is xedfor rotation witlrthe wormiitwill make one completerevolution per; revolutiontheworm.

container ismoved per revolution. of.the worm..Wlien the `containers.are adjacent. each .otherwith theirliiangjes 2"'overlapping, thisdistance will be substantiallyfequal-.to

.the diameter of the container.` If the containers are'spaced apartsothat their tiangesare .not overlapped'fthis distance Y will'fbe equal'to the 'diameter of the j'crontaiiierplus.Y 'the 'distance of the spacebetween adjacentcontainersl may be of a .nonffood productY suchas'lubricating Voi1,.or painttobe packagedinfcontainers., Y In the caseoifoodproducts to be aseptically; cannedin amanner disclosed inassignees Patent. No...2;549 .216 the. 'filling' apparatusliereof"'rr'1ay be employed as the. filling mechanism... By ,supplyingapredetermined. tixed quantity of product perv unit ofjtimetoyalvelliinrelation to the speed .ofmove-d vf ,mentOthe containers .bythe Worm,all the containers 1can be uniformly lled as they pass by stream S ofYproduct Y beingA continuously .fed into thecontainers.

As'. the "containersare,moved past :valve '18,- means 'l movable with'the .movernent .ofthe line .of containersisv` provided,.to diverto'rdivide'stream S--past the adjacent upper edges .of adjacentcontainers while [simultaneously sliiltirigfsu'cl'l" edgesfrorrr'thestream... Such :means A.com- 'prises' shield member 21 positioned 'over'the center.. line A of .I whi itanerslz' pathot movement .of theline ofcontainers;t and SlieldfZLcomp'rises spacedgfapart..endLplates.22v

between which/is' fijredly secured aftriangularly orcilvedgel shapedstreamdivider element. .23.' .with an.. apeX...of the 'Y.jtriangl'epositicned uppermost .with its. .baseeatan elena# tionfabovicztheupper. edges. of 'the. containerysmasato. dividefihe stream'sharply when.. .the shield Lmembereis lmoved.undc'erneathithe valveorifi`ce119. Y Y

Secured 'toshieldtnembe'r 2'1Q is '.a. rod` 24 xedlyksecured Fixedly'secured in Va predetermined position.v in.slot

33- is a cap` .screw 34 to .which is .connected a` spherical j rodendbearingo providing a .pivotalbalk jointconnection; the. bearingn 36.5being connected `to an: internally* threaded s-leeveg3i7t.vRodgendbearing .36 -is xedly-held in adjustedpps'itionby,alockrnute..Sleeve? is connected .jin adjustedposition to. an. externally threadedrod139.' connected to a. .clevis 41, which/inf tnrnis. con- K nected toanother spherical rod end bearing.,.42 pro-f- Y Y Y vidingvalball. jointpivotal,.conneetion,and whic'hisgalso: 75-jasthedineof movement. o fltheconveyors whenzeachpair ls'o, by reason of 'the pivotallyfmountedfb'elll.' crankl structure including rod 24V andlinkljthe abovedescribed linkageconnection betweenrlink 32. and pivotshaft'47,`"andVtl'reproiilegrof cam 53'Which is Vsorsh'aped as'rtojraise'and lowercam'follower'arm 51 continuously aslthegcamro tat'es withgthewormyshield member 21j'wil1 becontihuouslyA moved back and forth alongthe line'of1movement"of th'e containers. '"Initl'iis connection, the camprole 'is such as to 'effect movement of shield 21between aipjosi-YtionA (Fig. l) ahead of the center line'of the'stream supe" suchYcenter line, with-adwell period at each of. suchjposi- V-tion iD of'about 60"lwhich' .corresponds-to" the Yposition Y Y' at whichzshieldZlremains stationary at position Ajahelad' i- 'respondstothe'position whereY the shieldvrnemberrcmams "'tionarrows' depict thedirection of movement of'the parts,-cam 53 is provided wtha constantradius' dwellportions ADjand D', isa/gradual Vrise RT ofgabout *135'"which p is Yfolmed'bya'gradually'increasingradius.' Durrigthis fVme;-shieldmenrrber-21'moves at the. same 'speedasthje'jcontaiirers'from-'positionALk to Vposition-Bj A1so,`"betwccndwellportions D and-Dr isarelativelyjsharp l'drop portionF V:of about 50whichv determines:returnofv the`r mately 1%" 'to 2;

S.. I Y Y n Y decreases sharply from. 2 radius` back -to approximatelyshieldfrom position fB to position A.

A typical cam profile for all sizesof cans 'from2%fin diameter'ftol'li-fin diameter (knownn thctrad'assizes No.^-202';'throu'gh No'. 5404), irasfollowsix Shortdwell portion'D isof substantially'oonstant'radius ofabout l'1%'.'5 Rise/'Y'.Ris' of 'gradually' increasing` radius 'fromgapproxi'- The relatively .long dwellDf substantiallyr constant 2"''radius' whereas drop por'ton'; F

` 1%" radius..y

` As 'previously mentioned;v the described actuating mechanism etl'ectsmovement yof shield "21 betvv'eengposi- .tions A.- and -B ahead and,beyond the. .centen line streamsSoi product,respectively,..with,statina1ty .p0tls atbothA, andBQduringaportionof.thecycleofpertiqh l Them'nechanism is so` timedthat atpositionAJ ahead'of thestreatmshield 21.cornmences toV move atthe 'samezspcdanew/'oe of upper edges of adjacent containers moves underthe shield.Fig. 5 depicts the position of the shield just after it has commenced tomove over a pair of adjacent edges of adjacent containers C and C', andhas entered the stream owing from valve 18. It will be noted that thestream is divided or diverted so as to tiow past the adjacent edgescovered by the shield and iiow into both oontainers C and C'.

Fig. 6 depicts the position of the shield just at the time it hasreached position B where it remains stationary. In this position, all ofthe stream is diverted into the container C to the left while containerC to the right is substantially completely lled and container C becomesfilled as it moves past the stream. Y

Fig. 7 illustrates shield 21 still stationary with container C lled to agreater extent since it is being moved with the line of containers. Inthis connection, the return movement of shield 21 from position B toposition A is so timed as'to occur approximately when the center line ofcontainer C is under the center line of the stream whereby when thestream is divided during such return movement, both branches will owinto container C.

Fig. 8 depicts the position of the shield after commencement of itsrapid return movement resulting from the sharp fall F of the cam, butbefore the shield has reached position A. At position A, it will remainstationary to meet the oncoming adjacent edges'between container C and anew oncoming adjacent container C".

When the adjacent edges of adjacent containers C and C" pass undershield 21, the shield commences tomove while over such edges, fromposition A toward position B to divert the stream into both containers Cand C" as is depicted in'Fig. 9. It will be noted that some of thestream is still owing into container C which is not yet completelyilled, and some of the stream hascommenced` toiiow into container C".

Figs. 5a through 9a show the position of the cam and cam follower forthe various respective positions of the shield in Figs. 5 through 9.

Timing of YtheAmechanism for Vcoordination in the manner described maybe readily effected by adjusting the linkage connected to shield 21', sothat movement of the shield on `bothsides. ofthe center lineof valveoriticej19 is substantially equal and the extent of such movement ispreadjusted in accordance with the size of containers being conveyed.Next, with containers in position to be conveyed by Worm 4, the worm ismoved so that adjacent edges of a pair of adjacent containers arecentered substantially under the center line of the valve orifice.Finally, the cam is so adjusted by means of its adjusting means to causethe shield to be centered substantially under the center line of thenozzle orifice. This automatically results in the cam follower roller 52being substantially at the middle of long dwell portion D of the cam.

As previously mentioned, the described cam prole can be employed forsizes of containers varying from No. 202 through 404. With larger sizecontainers, the cam profile can be changed to provide the abovedescribed result. In this connection, it is understood that worms withvarious pitches may be interchangeably employed in the apparatus inaccordance with the size of containers being handled by the apparatus.

Fig. l() illustrates more or less schematically a line of adjacentcontainers, such as glass jars, which are being filled with spacesbetween the adjacent upper edges of adjacent containers. The dividerelement 23 is made wide enough to span the adjacent edges to precludeproduct from owing between such edges as the stream is being diverted.Metal containers which are spaced apart can also be lled in the samemanner.

We claim:

l. Apparatus for filling a product in containers comprising supply meanshaving a single discharge orice for supplying a substantially continuousstream of the product at a predetermined location, means forcontinuously moving a line of said` containers past said location, ashield mountedbelow said oriiice for dividing said stream as it flowsfrom saidsupply means, means for moving said shield back and forth alongthe line of said containers, and means correlating movement of saidshield with the movement of said containers to divert said streamV atsaid location past adjacent upper edges of adjacent containers whilesimultaneously shielding said adjacent edges froml said stream.

2. Apparatus for filling a product in containers comprising means havingav single discharge orifice for supplying a substantially continuousstream of the product at a predetermined location, means forcontinuously moving a line of said containers pastsaid location with asubstantially uninterrupted motion, a shield mounted below said oriiicefor covering adjacent upper edges of adjacent containers, means formovably supporting said shield, and meansfor moving said shield pastsaid stream while maintained in shielding position over said edges todivert said stream past said edges at said location.

3. Apparatus for filling a product in containers comprising means havinga single discharge orifice for supplying a substantially continuousstream of the product at a predetermined location, means forVcontinuously moving a line of said containers past said location with asubstantially uninterrupted 'motion, 'a shield mounted kbelow saidorifice for covering adjacent upper edges of adjacentrcontainers, apivotally mounted bell crank structure for movably supporting saidshield for back` and forth movement along said line, meansinterconnecting said bell crank structure for movement with saidconveying means, and timing means included in said interconnecting meansfor pivoting said bell crank to move said shield back and forth betweenpositions ahead of and beyond said stream.

' 4. Apparatus for iillinga product in containers com prising meanshaving a single discharge orifice for supplying a substantiallycontinuous stream of the product at a predetermined location, means forcontinuously moving a line of said containers past said location with asubstantially uninterruptedl motion, a shield mounted below said oriticefor covering adjacent upper edges of adjacent containers, means formovably supporting said shield, means for moving said shield past saidstream while maintained in shielding position over said edges to divertsaid stream past said edges at said location, said conveying meansincluding means for maintaining adjacent containers in said line insubstantially the same predetermined relationship, and means forsupplying a predetermined tixed quantity of product to said streamsupplying means per unit of time.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 in which a first link is pivotally connectedto said bell crank structure, a second link is pivotally connected tosaid first link and is secured to a pivot shaft, said timing meansincludes a timing cam driven with said conveying means, and a springpressed arm is connected to said pivot shaft and carries a cam followerengaging said cam.

6. The method of filling a product in containers which comprisingsupplying a single substantially continuous stream of the product at apredeterminedlocation, continuously conveying a line of said containerspast said location, providing a movable element to divide said stream,and moving said element in time with movement of said containers whilemaintaining said element free of engagement with said containers todivert said stream at said location past adjacent upper edges ofadjacent containers while simultaneously moving said element to shieldsaid adjacent edges from said stream.

7. The method of filling a product in containers comprisirig supplying asingle substantially continuous stream of the product at a predeterminedlocation and at a lixed predetermined quantity per unit of time,continuously moving a line of said containers past said location with asubstantially uninterrupted motion and with adjacent prisingf 'f7 QQntanersgingsai ,lineL-maintainediingsubstantiallyfthe @amai-predetti@ve relationship-,Vprovdingwagshield-LOI g vGOYtr-lls.;@diemen upper:edges .0fA adjacent-containers yfvovhile-f maintaining Saidi-shie1d freefof, engagementv -with rsaidzcontainer-agand moving said-Y shieldYiritime ,with the moyement-oifsaidv. edges;,-,to shieldsaidedges pas,they vpass said-*stream and divert said streamspastnsaid edgesrat saidlocation. Y Y 5 Y 8. The methodY-of-11-ingv a.. productincontainerscornlglising;` supplying a single substantiallyr continuous.- streamQfffthefproduct at- :1i-predetermined location and ata fixedV-predeterrnimd quantity-perfunit ottime, continuously tionsL andftersaid-shield,istmovedvibeyond said VStream Lrrtovfug said shieldgbacktoagposition ahead Voisaid stream for Subsequent: Shielding of; the nextpair of Aoncoming ad.; lcelrltfedges.

Y 95; Apparatus forV-tlling va'productin containers com- ;:means having:a singledischar-ge; orice for sup rplyingi es'uhst-antialiyflcontinuous; stream of Y the :product atf @predetermined locationgm meansfor continuously :movingfadi'ne of. said containers -rpast said orificewithja.` substantially uninterrupted motion, shield means; mounted 7--bel'owfvsaid orifice l for covering upper redgesA of ,Y adjacents-containersmoving past-said orifice, said ishield meansinlchidingiazwcdgeshaped'.element vhavingv itsv apex positioneduppermost andv its p base `abovsefthe upperyedges of j -suchicontainersgmeansl for j movably supporting saidV Y shekllnea'nsg: andfrneansforVmoving said, shield means ineludngilsaid :wedge-shaped element past'Vsaid` orificeV whilegmaintainingthe baseof said element in `shielding.positionabove :Jsaid upper. edges asthey movespast said2'orificeftolthereby divert-said stream'past said upper edges Y'-duringatheir movement past the orifice.

10. Apparatusfforlling a product in containers com-,upaen-:edeeaaduringi auch, movemen ment with; said'conueying means.;timin Y infsaidinterconnectingameansforspiuotiugisaidfbell :crank Y vto:movee'saidsshie'ldain correlation l tojmovuement ofsaid movingpast--Sadlocation, f saidV- shieldiinluding a wedgeshaped element having its apexpositionedgulppermostand its.hase.--ahove:thewingerledgesof-isuehlcontainrs, means formevably-sunporlingfsaid-fshieldrrneans fon moving said shie'idtpastsaidf'oriceto while-1 maintaining the hase.: v

said: wedge-shapedjelement ing-shieldingposinoniaboveis dgunpeeedgee as.ylheygrrlvs past said location to therebyrdivert'the t earn past saidOrifice imanes, u ,1.1.A 11.. Apparatus fon :prising-:Ineansvhaving:

agpnedetermined ioeatgionrmeans -for'eontinuousl 1 stantiallyktuninterrupted; mondain-shield mounted. bellow said orifices-:for:cover-ing adjacent ytainers l duringmoyement. :past: gsaicontainersifnom azpo'sitironvahead ofgsaidz ,oriee lto a posi-i tion:beyond said orice to. shieldza irstzpairfofiadjeent Y upperiedgesofadjaeentcontaines asxhey moveipastrssaid 35 loctiong-landSimeansufor;:rapidly u returning nsaidrshield. I:to

a position ahead of Vsaid orifice -to:shield-:theaiextfqpairVv-ofvoncoming. ilpipperledpgesfY .before =said1gedges :pass underRefereneesfCit'ed Vinthe Virleof patenti* I I s'rnrnsArnNfrs Sime Dec.9; 1941 nd ffcrgapidgle lfhseharaeferilne for .Supe pying .asuhstantiallycominuous str-.eamfof .the nretinal;aiVv

